About Me

I am a native of Illinois and grew up in Wilmette, a northern suburb of Chicago. I have one sibling, an older brother.
After dropping out of college, I moved to California in 1973 with my first husband. I married my present husband, Butch, in 1977 and got 4 children in the deal. They have gone on to make me a grandmother 24 times over and a great-grandmother of 13.
Three years after I married Butch I returned to school. I got my bachelors and masters degrees in speech communication and was a professor in that field for 13 years. I retired in 2001 to return to school and get my doctorate in folklore. Now I meld my two interests - folklore and genealogy - and add my teaching background, resulting in my current profession: speaker/entertainer of genealogically-related topics. I play a number of folk instruments, but my preference is guitar, which I have been playing since 1963. I am a Board Certified genealogist and more information on all this, as well as direct contact info, is on my Circlemending website.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Memorial for my Friend, Pernell Roberts (1928-2010)

One of my oldest friends has died. I am heartsick, but know that he is finally released from his pain and suffering. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost 3 years ago & fought it with every fiber of his being. Now he is at peace . . . and his loved ones left behind are mourning and hurting.

I first met Pernell Roberts in 1966. By 1969 we had forged a friendship and, after I moved to California in 1973, we ended up virtually neighbors (1 mile apart . . . which is essentially next door in California parlance). His wife & I became close friends & allies. And when I had problems or quandaries, it was to them I went for solace. Many an issue was discussed over Chinese food and pizza (not at the same time). He taught me to appreciate bleu cheese and anchovies. He also taught me to love myself and seek out the right paths for me, regardless of what others might think. I remember more than once, visiting a book store with him while he selected texts that would have particular application to me and my life.

When I met Butch & knew I was going to be serious about the guy, I took him to meet Pernell (to get approval?). In fact, as I have made many changes and adjustments throughout life, I have talked them over with Pernell. He was a mentor as well as a friend. Pernell's interest in my own father's past and Dad's involvement in the field of mathematics at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study gave me greater appreciation of my own roots.

Our last visits took place in 2008, after his surgery. We sang, shared stories, I shared some of his genealogy with him (showing him a census record that had his name on it - something not everyone gets to see in his/her life), and cried together. A few months later I returned with a friend, who insisted on taking a photo of me with him - I think we all knew it would be the last (I have many photos taken of the 2 of us together, but this one I will cherish as it was taken on our last in-person visit).

(photo, above, by Kim Marlow - 2008)

Though we spoke on the phone many times since that day (42 years after we first met), being 100 miles apart and having schedules that never seemed to be in sync meant that I was not to see him again. I have come to grips with that because the last visits were so positive and he, also, expressed pleasure in having good days at those times (as anyone who is familiar with cancer knows, some days are better than others).

Yesterday I received the phone call I had been dreading - my friend of so many years had passed away. A short while later the information was released to the media. I have met many wonderful folks who have been long-time Pernell Roberts fans, falling in love with young Adam Cartwright on Bonanza, but I met him after he left the show and, though I first was "introduced" to him as Adam on that show, I became far more impressed with his performances as Padraic Madigan (The Big Valley), Jim Boyer (The Virginian), Joey Celeste (The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.), Hezekiah Horn (The Young Riders), and so many other characters that it would (and does) fill pages. I was blessed to have visited the set of Trapper John, M.D. on many occasions and get to watch him as he developed that memorable character after the M*A*S*H years. And I was fortunate enough to have seen him on stage numerous times in 6 different plays, seeing him as the King in The King and I, Rhett Butler in the musical version of Gone with the Wind, Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man, and others. But the "character" I came to love the best was the story-telling, song-swapping, advice-giving Pernell Elven Roberts, Jr. That's whom I will miss every day for the rest of my life.

As I state on my website, I believe that who we are is largely a result of the people we have connected with in our lives. I believe that the biological connections can be instrumental in forming who we become and developing what talents lie within our genes, but I also believe that the personal associations we engage in can be just as influential. Pernell Roberts has influenced my life since I was in my early teens and that influence has led to various choices I have made. We shared a love of words and their origins (frequently introducing each other to another "find" in the etymological field) and the folk music genre (swapping songs and reminiscing about favorite performers). While he did not introduce me to either of those interests, his fueling them has caused me to explore both arenas that much more. And he has been an example of what an ethical human being should be: his efforts on behalf of those less fortunate and those in minority groups have been tremendous, though not publicized as some celebrities do.

I remember when I got a small guest part as a square dance caller on the short-lived TV show with Madeline Kahn - Oh! Madeline! - I called Pernell and his wife to tell them. Pernell got on the phone and bellowed, "Welcome to the big time!" He and his wife recorded my appearance (Butch & I had not yet entered the techy age of VCRs) so that I could remember that "big time." When I was in high school, I wrote a song for him; the chorus goes: "Thank you for just being you;/ No one else could ever do What you've done for me/ Can't you see? Because of you, I'm a better me." Pernell, I guess now, someone else is saying to you: "Welcome to the big time!"

Thank you for sharing your tribute. I realize how hard this must have been to write. While we have lost an icon, you have lost a dear friend. What I will cherrish most about Pernell is how he unknownly gave me a great friend in you.

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful memorial. As I watch my 90 year old mother failing from rapidly from lung cancer, I can certainly relate to your words. That picture is worth a thousand words. Cherish it and cherish the memories you have with your dear friend. Best wishes

Pernell was such an embodiment of everything that was good about the 1960s, with its promise and re-assesment along with its tragedy and heartache. Pernell should be remembered as one of that decades brightest lights. I never knew him, but that never stopped him from being one of my cherished heroes.

Jean,Thanks for sharing this lovely remembrance. Pernell was a wonderful man, a good friend, and a big part of my life, especially when I was just beginning as an actor. He was a true inspiration to me, as he was to many actors over the years. I was so lucky to have shared the screen with him for nearly eight seasons, and am deeply saddened at his passing. Fortunately, he lives on in the memories of his fans, and in the hearts of the lucky people, like you and me, that he touched personally. I'll be forever grateful to him.Fondly,Gregory Harrison

Thank-you for sharing a part of Mr. Roberts with us.From what I have read here,you both are so very fortunate to have found such a beautiful friendship.Very precious and rare in a world filled with loneliness.Pernell Roberts has touched the hearts of many,the only man who could bring me tears with his portrayals of some of the most kind,loving and caring men.Such a talented ,handsome man with the most beautiful voice I have ever heard,he will be missed by all. My condolences to you and all his loving family and friends.An amazing man who will never be forgotten.Take careMary-Anne

Thank you Jean for sharing this with us fans. Pernell was first interduced to me as Adam Cartwright 40 years ago I was hooked from that point on. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. As much as the loss of this wonderful man has broke my heart, can't imagine being a close friend and lossing him. He is just such a very special individual and he will be forever in my heart. Now the angals get to enjoy that beautiful voice. I salute you Mr. RobertsMaribeth S.

Jean, thank you for sharing your lovely tribute to an extraordinary man. I've been so happy to see blog posts, articles, comments online at news sites and obituary guestbooks, etc., emerge since his death that bring out aspects of the real man, the one whom you knew and loved so well, that went beyond specific roles he played. I always appreciated the way you would carefully share some stories about him on some of the Bonanza message boards and e-mail lists and in fan gatherings but always very judiciously, without violating confidences and always respecting his privacy and your friendship.You were a true friend to him, as he was to you.Thank you for sharing him with us, and my condolences on your loss, and Eleanor's and that of all the dear friends who cherished him, which is so much greater than our own, who only kew him through his marvelous performances and what we've heard and read of his personal character. Having lost my husband to pancreatic cancer only three years ago, I know only too well what his loved ones must have been through over the past few years.

I also enjoyed your word-origin articles in Bonanza Gold, even more so to know that Pernell also had a fascination with word origins, as I do. I wish I'd had the opportunity to meet him and discuss that topic or any others with him and to hear that fantastic voice in person. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Eleanor and all his family and friends.

Lovely -- thanks so much for commenting at the MaryJanesFarm Suburban Farmgirl blog so we could see this. I love your comment: "I believe that who we are is largely a result of the people we have connected with in our lives."

I wish I could have commented sooner, but I just discovered you tribute. I just wanted to express my condolences, and also to thank you for your wonderful tribute. I not only admired him as an actor, but also a man of integrity and convictions. Again, thank you for your memorial and sharing your friendship with him. Best Wishes, Steve Arnold

Hi. I just read your beautiful tribute to Mr. Roberts & wanted to thank you for sharing it & offer my belated condolences. I'm so glad to know that he was just as nice in real life as I'd always imagined.Do you think maybe you'd be willing to talk more about him & post more pics of yourselves sometime in the future? I'd love to know how & where you met. Thank you in advance.

I read in an online article about your friend Pernell Roberts that he was part Native American. I was wondering, whether you could confirm that. I know that, besides his efforts on behalf of other minority groups, he also supported various Native American causes.

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